Matthew 3:1-4

1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the desert of Judea announcing,2 “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!”3 He was the one of whom Isaiah the prophet spoke when he said: The voice of one shouting in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight.”4 John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.

The desert. What grows in the desert? John the Baptist “appeared” in the desert, the scripture story tells us, and begins wreaking havoc, the likes of which have not been seen for generations. He dresses funny; he eats peculiar things; he bellows like a crazy man about getting ready for...

We know that you wait for us in the desert, Jesus of Nazareth. Awaken us and teach us to follow. Amen.

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The Old Testament roots of Advent hope are cast in royal imagery. The psalm marks the king as one whose work is to bring justice to the weak. The new king makes a new world possible. The Gospel reading is both invitation and warn- ing that we must make concrete decisions to reorder our life in ways appropriate to God’s new intention. Characteristically Paul makes the grand, sweeping claim: The new behavior appropriate to God’s new governance is that the strong and the weak, the haves and have-nots, relate to each other in new faithfulness. Advent is spent pondering speci c decisions about bringing our daily life into sync with God’s rule.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read Isaiah 11:1-10. When do you allow yourself “fallow” time? How does that time of “resting” nurture your fruitful- ness?
• Read Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19. This prayer for the king expresses the qualities that the people desire in a leader. What would you add to the list?
• Read Romans 15:4-13. Paul notes that Christ welcomed you for the glory of God. Consider the last several months: Whom have you welcomed for the glory of God?
• Read Matthew 3:1-12. What is growing in your heart’s wil- derness this Advent season?